PORT TOWNSEND — A flock of comedians will alight this Friday night for “Laughs for Lee,” a benefit at the Key City Playhouse.
Nationally known comics Mike “Wally” Walter, Vince Valenzuela, Travis Simmons, Barbara Sehr, Jerry Percio and Susan Jones will all appear in this fundraiser to help the family of Lee Harding, an Air Force veteran who lived in Port Hadlock until his death in July.
“Lee loved to laugh and share jokes . . . even at the end he was laughing,” said Laura O’Neal, the North Olympic Peninsula-based comedian who will host Friday’s event.
Shortly before he died, Harding went to see his favorite, Susan Jones, at 7 Cedars Casino, O’Neal added.
Now, Jones has arranged the comic lineup at the Key City Playhouse, 419 Washington St., to help Harding’s family with medical bills.
Harding died of pancreatic cancer at age 61.
“He was funny, caring, easygoing and a hard worker,” O’Neal said of Harding, who was also the stepfather of Steve Strout, the promoter who runs Olympic Peninsula Comedy (www.OlypenComedy.com).
Admission Friday is a suggested donation of $15, and more details are available at 360-460-8688 and ptcomedy@yahoo.com.
Everyone is welcome at the 8 p.m. event, O’Neal emphasized.
“We do it for his family; we do it for the laughs; we do it for Lee.”
Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
